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'Italian Proceedings on the African Coast of the Red Sea.' [40r] (31/32)
The record is made up of 1 file (16 folios). It was created in 19 Sep 1881. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
1
m
No*651 0 ™ F ° reign 0ffice> 6th September;
31
the immediate neighbourhood of Assab, made it
impossible for the Italian Government, in the face
of public opinion in Italy, to remain quiet. He
therefore begged that Lord Granville would eive
particular attention to the request made in the
telegram which he had just read.
His Excellency then alluded to the position of
the Italians at Assah Bay. Their contention, he
said, was that ^ they were on exactly the same
grounds as to right as the English were at Aden ;
that the Egyptians had, in fact, no rights of
sovereignty in these countries; that their onlv
attempts to exercise them were of a vexatious
character, and not in the direction of government
! h TT pi ?P er sense of the word - He was aware
that lier Majesty’s Government did not admit this
doctrine, and there was no question at this moment
of raising the point in dispute between the two
Governments. r !he Italian Government only asked
Her Majesty’s Government to take the step indi
cated in the telegram he had just read, and thus to
avoid serious complications, which could be of no
possible advantage to us, and might have very
inconvenient consequences.
Lord Granville told His Excellency the reply
which had been given to the application of the
Egyptian Government. He pointed out that Her
Majesty’s Government had anticipated the request
of the Italian Government, but with this distinc
tion, that their advice was not absolute—it was
only that the Egyptians should remain quiet for
the present, and thus give time for the careful
discussion of the subject.
General Menabrea spoke of the excellent under
standing which had existed between the two
countries since the accession of Mr. Gladstone to
power, and of the cordiality with which the Italian
Government had co-operated with Her Majesty’s
Government in every question which had arisen.
He expressed a strong hope that on this occasion
Her Majesty’s Government would act in the same
spirit.
Lord Granville replied, that General Menabrea
must be perfectly aware of the feelings entertained
by Mr. Gladstone and himself towards Italy, and
of their desire that the best possible relations
should exist between the two countries. He said
that it would be the desire of Her Majesty’s Go
vernment in this, as in all other circumstances, to
act in as conciliatory a manner as possible. This
question, however, of Assab Bay was one of great
difficulty. The language of Her Majesty’s Govern
ment on the subject to Italy, Turkey/and Egypt
had throughout been the same, and he believed
that perfect frankness on both sides was the best
policy that could be pursued.
The foregoing conversation was embodied in a
Despatch from Lord Granville to Her Majesty’s
Chargd d’Affaires at Rome, dated the 3rd Septem
ber, No. 374.*
A separate Despatch to the same gentleman,
dated the 5th September, No. 375, summarized
About this item
- Content
A paper written in continuation of a previous memorandum regarding the Italian Occupation of Assab Bay [IOR/L/PS/18/B22], which brings the story up to date.
The first section describes the course of events at and around Assab from May 1880 to September 1881, including protests made by the Egyptian Government to the Italian Government at their purchase of the whole coastline around Assab Bay and the islands nearby, and an enquiry that followed the massacre of an Italian exploring party. This section concludes with two reports suggesting that, although the Italians had not made much progress at Assab Bay, they had shown their intention to get a foothold on the African continent.
The second section reproduces correspondence between the British, Italian and Egyptian governments, and between the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. and the Foreign Office from May 1880 to September 1881. The correspondence relates to the purchase of land at Assab Bay by the Rubattino Company; Italian Government denials that the territory would be used for military purposes; attempts made by the Italian Government to legitimise their occupation of the place by encouraging the British Government to accredit a British Agent there, both for commercial purposes and for the purpose of co-operation in the suppression of the slave trade; and a British Government proposal that the Italian Government enter into a formal convention about the matter with the Egyptian Government.
The final section reproduces correspondence connected with a proposed disembarkation of Egyptian troops at Raheita to the south of Assab Bay; Egyptian appeals for a British warship to be sent to the area; Italian protestations that disembarkation at Raheita would constitute a provocation; and the British Government's re-affirmation that the sovereignty of the coastline at Raheita and Assab Bay belongs to the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and the Khedive of Egypt.
The paper is written by Arthur William Moore.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (16 folios)
- Arrangement
This file consists of a summary of historical events (ff 25-28), followed by two further sections reproducing correspondence (ff 28-36) and (ff 36-40).
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at folio 25, and terminates at folio 40, as it is part of a larger volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/18/B22a
- Title
- 'Italian Proceedings on the African Coast of the Red Sea.'
- Pages
- 25r:28r, 29v:31r, 32v:34v, 36v:37r, 38r:40v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence